It is a very exciting time for us here at Aguayuda. We are growing in the number of volunteers, in the number of prospective projects, while learning about new technologies that we hope to utilize on future sites. Every time we go to Colombia we come across another community in desperate need of a water solution, and our growing tool box of resources allows us to plan appropriate interventions for their specific needs.
Aguayuda would also like to welcome our two full time summer interns Ariel and Phyo, as well as thank our worldwide network of volunteers and donors, especially Kathleen and Bonnie who are helping with grant writing and fundraising, Rebekah our social media volunteer, Stefanie, Ana and Mario who translated our new website update as well as Jack and Jorge who are helping in the project planning. We cannot do the work we do without all of you, and every completed project is a result of your own dedication as well.
We just returned from a six week trip to Colombia where we went to a rural community called Comején. There are about 100 indigenous Wayúu living there, with only a failing windmill and a leaking water distribution system as their sole source of water. The newly formed windmill company from our project in El Pájaro made necessary repairs and maintenance to the windmill, water storage tanks, and constructed a water basin for the animals, while the community dug trenches for the new water distribution system. They were incredible workers in the heat, and as a result every home in the community now has its own faucet. This was an incredibly successful project implementation, but unfortunately as we completed the work in Comején, several other communities in desperate need of clean water emerged. We see a lot of the same problems in our work; shallow wells, broken windmill pumps, leaking raised water storage units. For the amount of suffering that arises from using impure water sources, it is amazing how simple and relatively inexpensive repairs or installed technology are all it will take to provide an entire community with clean water and sanitation.
Some of the technologies we are looking at implementing are: solar powered pumps, hand pumps, dry latrines, constructed wetlands, and ceramic filters. These are high-impact, affordable technologies that will increase the health of the communities we work in. We will keep you updated as we roll these out. Speaking of...
We have just undertaken a massive website overhaul and are proud to share photos from our recent projects, and other exciting news from our work. Click here to check it out.
If you have any questions about current or future projects and what you can do to help, explore our new website or feel free to contact us anytime.
Thanks for your support,
